Canada May 2018: F-Series breaks record in 2nd largest month in history

It’s a new volume record for the Ford F-Series in Canada.

* See the Top 15 groups, Top 40 brands and Top 270 models by clicking on the title *

Although the Canadian market does dip by a tiny 0.4% year-on-year to 215.903 units this month, it’s from an exceptionally high comparison set a year ago, as May 2017 remains to this day the biggest month in Canadian history at 216.861 registrations. This way, May 2018 is the second highest month ever and only the 4th time the market surpasses 200.000 monthly sales after April 2016 (200.607) and June 2017 (203.495). The year-to-date volume is now up 0.4% to a record 839.056 units after five months, but the market has now been in decline for three consecutive months, something that hasn’t happened in over 5 years – since March 2013. According to local consultancy Desrosiers whose figures are slightly lower due to the absence of some luxury brands such as Tesla, light trucks remain robust at +4% to 147.337 sales or 68.4% of the market, with passenger cars once again solely responsible for the market decline at -9.4% to 68.070 or 31.6% share. YTD light trucks lift up 4.8% to 589.183 or 70.4% vs. 67.3% a year ago while passenger cars drop 9.5% to 247.339 or 29.6% share vs. 32.7% over the same period in 2017.

The Honda CR-V surges 28% to remain the #1 SUV in the country.

Ford Motor remains at the helm of the groups ranking despite a 3.3% year-on-year drop to 15.4% share, still well above its YTD level of 14.8%, General Motors gains a cool 5.4% to 15.2% but FCA tumbles down 14.8% to 13.1%, distancing Toyota Motor (+0.9%) at 11.2%, Honda Motor (+3.4%) at 10% and Hyundai-Kia (-6.8%) at 9.9%. Jaguar Land Rover (+15.8%), Daimler AG (+10.5%), the Volkswagen Group (+10.4%), BMW Group (+8.5%) and Nissan Motors (+4.3%) are all in great shape. Brand-wise, Ford (-3.1%) easily wins at 15.1% share just as its four direct followers all beat the market: Toyota (+1.9%), Honda (+3.2%) and Chevrolet (+8.5%). Mazda (+6.9%) and Nissan (+3.2%) are also solid but Ram (-16.1%), Hyundai (-8.9%) and Kia (-3.5%) suffer. Further down, Genesis (+125.8%), Alfa Romeo (+123.5%), Volvo (+41%), Land Rover (+28.7%), Tesla (+28.6%), Mitsubishi (+20.1%), Bentley (+20%), Buick (+14.8%), Smart (+11.8%) Volkswagen (+11.4%) and Mercedes (+10.5%) are the best performers.

The Ford Ecosport is now the most popular recent launch in Canada. Picture canadianautoreview.ca

The Ford F-Series posts the biggest gain in the Top 5 at +5% to lodge a new all-time volume record at 16.039 units, beating its previous best of 15.660 established in June 2017. The Ram Pickup (-17%), Toyota Corolla (-7%) and GMC Sierra (-3%) all lose ground year-on-year and the Honda Civic edges up 4% in third place. The Honda CR-V surges 28% to #6, cementing its YTD lead in the SUV segment above the Toyota RAV4 up just 3% in May. The Dodge Grand Caravan (-37%), Hyundai Elantra (-29%) and Ford Escape (-8%) are hit hard. Further down the ranking, the best performers include the Nissan Leaf (+643%), Subaru Crosstrek (+95%), Mitsubishi Outlander (+88%), VW Tiguan (+79%), Jeep Cherokee (+73%), Audi Q5 (+58%), Jeep Compass (+47%), Buick Encore (+39%) and Toyota Prius (+39%). With the Nissan Qashqai (+899%), VW Atlas (+396%) and Toyota C-HR (+6%) now above the 1-year mark, the title of best-selling newcomer goes to the Ford Ecosport (#88) ahead of the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross (#145), Kia Stinger (#165) and Range Rover Velar (#166).

Previous month: Canada April 2018: Premium brands and Nissan defy market down 2.6%

One year ago: Canada May 2017: Ram teases F-Series in all-time record month

Full May 2018 Top 15 groups, Top 40 brands and Top 270 models below.